The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday strongly condemned the attack on the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, carried out by individuals waving Khalistan flags. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal issued an official statement expressing deep concern over the incident, stating, “We condemn the acts of violence perpetrated by extremists and separatists at the Hindu Sabha Temple in Brampton yesterday.”
Incident Details and Reactions
Videos of the attack circulated widely on social media, showing a group of men armed with sticks assaulting devotees outside the temple. In response to the violence, the MEA called on the Canadian government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to ensure the protection of places of worship from such attacks and demanded that those involved in the violence be prosecuted. The MEA emphasized, “We remain deeply concerned about the safety and security of Indian nationals in Canada.”
Khalistani Extremism Decried by Canadian Officials
Condemning the attack, Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya remarked that Khalistani extremists have “crossed the red line.” Sharing footage of the incident on X, he highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, “The attack by Khalistanis on Hindu-Canadian devotees inside the premises of the Hindu Sabha temple in Brampton shows how deep and brazen Khalistani violent extremism has become in Canada.”
Prime Minister Trudeau’s Response In light of the incident, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau labeled the violence as “unacceptable,” reiterating the importance of the right to practice religion freely and safely for all Canadians. In a post on X, he stated, “The acts of violence at the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton today are unacceptable. Every Canadian has the right to practice their faith freely and safely.”
Diplomatic Tensions Heightened This attack comes amidst rising tensions between India and Canada, following unsubstantiated allegations by Ottawa accusing the Indian government of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The diplomatic spat has led to both nations expelling each other’s envoys. Recently, Canada identified New Delhi as a cyberthreat, suggesting state-sponsored espionage activities against it. India has consistently dismissed these claims and urged the Trudeau government to provide credible evidence to support its allegations.
